Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)

March 4, 2026

Dear friends,

Much of our nation, as well as the world, is in tumult right now. There are wars on numerous fronts, and civil unrest in many places here at home. However, the day I'd like to reflect upon happened fifty-five years ago today, early in the morning, when I prayed this prayer:

"Lord Jesus, I need You. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive You as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of the throne of my life. Make me the kind of person You want me to be. Amen."

Now, my biblical understanding of salvation has deepened over the years, but that prayer reflected the desire of my heart then, and it is the substance of my faith today. My life has not been the same ever since, thanks be to God.

Currently, I'm reading the Gospel of Mark and seeing in a fresh way Jesus' power and authority to forgive, to teach truth, to cast out unclean spirits, to restore health, and to exercise dominion over nature. His presence was God's presence.

What strikes me is how his touch brought healing. He took Simon's mother-in-law by the hand, and her fever left (Mk 1:31). He reached out and touched the leper, and immediately the leprosy was gone (1:41). He touched the ears and tongue of the deaf and mute man (7:33), so that he could hear and speak. He led the blind man by the hand and placed his hands upon his eyes (8:23-25), so that he could see. He took a child into his arms (9:36), and he laid his hands upon the children to bless them (10:16). Jesus was fully human and unafraid of human contact. He was not aloof. Sometimes we imagine Jesus as being so holy that he was afraid of getting his hands dirty. Not so.

So, fifty-five years later, I'm eternally grateful that he touched my leprous soul and made it clean. Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6) I wasn't walking his way, and he put me on it. I didn't know the truth, and he opened my eyes and mind to his word. I didn't have life, and now I have. He reconciled me to the Father. He alone did that.

So, that's me, half a century ago. And that's me today. So, why write about that day, today, with all the turmoil going on in the world? Does some guy's religious experience take precedence over bombs falling out of the sky? One step further: why even think about the cross and empty tomb from 2,000 years ago with all the critical problems facing us today?

I don't want to minimize the seriousness of what we're facing today. But we should make a distinction between crisis -- or that which is immediate and urgent -- and that which is important and eternal.

Jesus spoke of hearing of wars and rumors of wars, and other frightening things, and said that, rather than being alarmed, believers should "straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” (Luke 21:28) This does not mean that we don't pray, but rather, that we don't panic, like people whose portion is in this world.

One day all the nations of this world will come to an end. As will the wars, and the injustice. The Lord said to his people through Jeremiah: "I will make a full end of all the nations to which I have driven you, but of you I will not make a full end." (Jeremiah 46:28) And in Revelation, "Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, 'The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.'” (Revelation 11:15)

National and global politics have moral implications to be sure. They need the attention of leaders and citizens. (Which is not the same thing as hours spent on news and social media feeds.) They feel urgent. But Something years ago is eternally important: namely, the death of God's Son, his resurrection, and your salvation. This is infinitely more important and eternally worthy of your attention. Today's headlines will fade. Wars will end. Criminals will be judged. Pray about that, but always turn you mind and heart back to the great works of God. He is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and End of history. History is His Story, and he shall stand vindicated in the end.

IN OTHER NEWS.

-- How to pray for people in Iran right now.

-- Dallas Seminary is offering a free course on the history of the Nicene Creed.

-- Update on other persecuted Christian groups throughout the world.

FINAL QUOTE.

"Faith is refusing to be burdened because we have cast our burden upon the Lord." (D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)

That's it for this week from not-quite-spring in the New River Valley, Virginia!

Sandy

Afterwords is an occasional newsletter on topics of interest to me (Sandy Young) since my retirement from full-time pastoral ministry. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.